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Casinos

Casinos
News and analysis about the gambling industry in general, and casinos in the Asia-Pacific region specifically. The topic's coverage includes corporate announcements, news and analysis about casinos in the Macau Special Administrative Region (Macau SAR), their offshore investments, expansion plans and business activities, as well as the performance of their stocks wherever they are listed.
British novelist Lawrence Osborne, whose book The Ballad of a Small Player has been made into a Netflix film starring Colin Farrell, pictured in North Point, Hong Kong. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Books and literature

Ghosts, gamblers and green velvet: the strange magic of Lawrence Osborne’s world

The novelist behind Colin Farrell’s new Macau-set film noir, The Ballad of a Small Player, reveals how his art imitates his life.

Macau

SJM cancels plan to buy Ponte 16, but pursues deal for L’Arc Macau

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Video | Thailand extradites gambling kingpin She Zhijiang to China

European cinema

How Macau and Hong Kong inspired Colin Farrell’s Ballad of a Small Player

Farrell and Edward Berger share why Macau was a ‘perfect setting’ for a tale about an erratic gambler and how he finds reprieve in Hong Kong.

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Colin Farrell in a still from Ballad of a Small Player. In Netflix’s new film, the actor stars opposite Tilda Swinton as an unhinged gambler running through the casinos of Macau, and occasionally escaping to Hong Kong. Photo: Netflix
Macau

Tycoon Lawrence Ho’s family office opens world’s first resort hospital in Macau

The hospital, which offers health screening, diagnostic imaging and longevity treatments, will help boost gaming hub’s medical tourism bid.

The Philippines

‘Public health crisis’: Philippines weighs cost of e-gambling ban

Regulators have defended the sector’s economic contributions even as health experts warn it exploits the vulnerable and deepens poverty.

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The Philippines

‘Silent epidemic’: how online gambling is ravaging Filipinos’ lives

As addiction to online gambling grows, rehabilitation groups in the Philippines are urging the government to act – before it’s too late.

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A game of roulette being played on a smartphone. The Philippines raked in gross gaming revenue of US$7 billion last year. Photo: Getty Images
Gun violence in the US

Shooter opens fire at Nevada casino, killing 3 and injuring several others

The attack took place outside the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno early on Monday. Police said a suspect is in custody and the motive is unknown.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong actor Jacky Heung sued by Macau casino over HK$1.4 million debt

MGM Grand Paradise alleges actor borrowed HK$2 million to convert into betting chips in late 2024, but has only paid back some of the money.

Macau

Macau set for blockbuster summer with star-studded concerts

City’s daily average visitor arrivals to hit 110,000 in July and August, up 2.2 per cent from 107,628 a year earlier, tourism chief says.

Studio City Macau is hosting a number of concerts and events this summer. Photo: Handout
Thailand

Thailand shelves controversial casino bill amid political turmoil

Thailand’s cabinet withdrew a draft law to legalise casinos and entertainment complexes on Tuesday, citing the need for public engagement.

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Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday withdrew a controversial bill that aims to legalise casinos after the prime minister was suspended over an ethics investigation. Photo: Shutterstock
Macau

Macau luxury property The 13 Hotel sells for HK$600 million to a local buyer

The sale to an unidentified buyer in Macau marks the city’s first hotel-related property transaction since the fourth quarter of 2017.

Indonesia

Is Indonesia ready to roll the dice on casinos at the risk of social costs?

An Indonesian lawmaker has asked Jakarta to consider following the UAE in allowing casino gambling, saying the idea is ‘out of the box’.

Macau

Macau’s Galaxy boss: open Hengqin Island to address hotel shortage

Development of the island, which is three times Macau’s size, would boost the economy and its diversification, Francis Lui Yiu-tung says.

According to Galaxy’s estimates, Macau needs at least 15,000 more hotel rooms. Photo: Shutterstock
Art

Macau’s House of Dancing Water returns to City of Dreams

The aquatic spectacular, boasting a cast of 300, has returned to Macau’s City of Dreams after a five-year break.

The House of Dancing Water features a 300-strong cast. Photo: The House of Dancing Water
International Property

Lawrence Ho’s family office invests in Hong Kong real estate broker IFCX

Investment by Black Spade follows the billionaire’s bet on Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast Auto in 2023.

Entertainment

Video | First look at Macau’s new ‘House of Dancing Water’

With more than 300 cast members from 30 countries, House of Dancing Water has returned to Macau with new characters and fresh orchestration meant to entice tourists to the extravagant performances

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Art Basel

Macau’s Poly MGM Museum draws 500,000 punters with hi-tech historical displays

Fusing ancient artefacts with cutting-edge technology, Macau’s new Poly MGM Museum is drawing huge crowds eager for an immersive historical experience.

Fusing ancient artefacts with cutting-edge technology, Macau’s new Poly MGM Museum is drawing huge crowds eager for an immersive historical experience. Photo: Handout
The Philippines

Philippine midterm elections: casino-linked cash, machine failures raise alarms

Foreigners caught with billions in undeclared pesos, broken voting machines and scattered violence all cast a shadow over the vote.

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Greater Bay Area

Macau’s most opulent lodging, The 13 Hotel and Casino, up for sale again

The 22-storey luxury property in Macau’s Coloane district was estimated last year to be worth US$309 million.

Japan

Japan weighs new legislation to tackle illegal gambling via online casinos

High-profile scandals involving baseball stars and comedians have exposed a ‘shocking’ lack of public awareness about the law, observers say.

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A study by Japan’s National Police Agency shows online gamblers are mostly in their 20s and 30s, with about 40 per cent saying they did not know that online gambling is illegal. Photo: Shutterstock
Art Basel

How Macau’s government and casino operators are betting on culture

The 2025 Culture City of East Asia is hoping visitors will buy into its transformation to a hub for art installations and concerts.

Chinese Opera (1993), acrylic on canvas, Carlos Marreiros. The work forms part of the exhibition “New Perspectives: Modern and Contemporary Works from the Macao Museum of Art”. Photo: Handout
Millionaires and billionaires

Who is socialite Nick Hissom, the stepson of casino mogul Steve Wynn?

Hissom reportedly learned of his partner’s infidelity courtesy of an anonymous confessions account, which is themed after the elite Swiss boarding school where he studied.

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Banking & finance

Exclusive | Chelsea owner Todd Boehly eyes Hong Kong and Macau for new ventures

The American tycoon spots potential for fintech, sports and entertainment expansion in Hong Kong and Macau.

Asia travel

Memories of Macau pleasure palace Hotel Lisboa as it turns 55

‘Whatever happened at the Lisboa stayed in the Lisboa.’ Macau’s first integrated resort and how it has been subtly updated for the new era.

Hotel Lisboa, Macau. Photo: SJM Resorts
Fame and celebrity

Celebrities who love gambling – from Drake and Bruno Mars to Tiger Woods

Musicians such as Bruno Mars and Drake and athletes including Michael Jordan have long made headlines thanks to their love of betting: online, in Las Vegas casinos and elsewhere

Headline gamblers include sports and entertainment celebrities Michael Jordan (left), Bruno Mars and Tiger Woods. Photo: Nexus
Thailand

Thailand eyes US$1.5 million minimum for local casino gamblers

The requirement would effectively block large swathes of the population – creating what one gaming analyst called a ‘foreigner-only regime’.

Macau

Exclusive | New Galaxy Macau chairman builds constellation of 5-star hotels

Francis Lui adds the opulent Capella hotel to the second-largest casino and resort operator’s growing universe of lodgings and attractions.

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